Why is my dog acting out?

When you know why your dog is acting out, you can work on correcting the behavior more efficiently. Victoria Wells is the senior manager of behavior and training at the ASPCA Adoption Center. We asked her why dogs sometimes misbehave. read more

A dog acting out is testing your patience, so you need to remind him what those limits are. No screaming or punishing him, though, as that can increase his stress and actually worsen the problem. Just let him know you're unhappy -- but only if you catch him in the act. read more

"Once we determine that the dog is getting what it needs from the pet owner, then we can begin to implement a routine, and a solution to prevent the dog from chewing things and having accidents." Remove the temptation: Until your dog can be trusted to be around books, shoes or clothes without destroying them, it's time for a crate. read more